2010-07-02

Interview with Kevin Ahrens

Kevin Ahrens was selected 16th overall in 2007 as an 18 year old. Your Toronto Blue Jays made 5 picks in the first round of that draft and Kevin was taken the highest. He was drafted out of Memorial high school in Texas as a switch hitting shortstop and received a $1,440,000.00 signing bonus.

Here is a quick look at his stats:

Year

Age

Tm

Lg

Lev

Aff

G

PA

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

SB

CS

BB

SO

BA

OBP

SLG

2007

18

Blue Jays

GULF

Rk

TOR

48

192

165

19

38

6

0

3

21

3

0

25

47

.230

.339

.321

2008

19

Lansing

MIDW

A

TOR

122

514

460

54

119

25

5

5

42

5

1

45

135

.259

.329

.367

2009

20

Dunedin

FLOR

A+

TOR

105

423

377

35

81

17

2

4

36

1

1

37

76

.215

.282

.302

2010

21

2 Teams

2 Lgs

A+-A

TOR

37

155

145

14

25

8

1

1

11

2

2

7

35

.172

.214

.262

2010

21

Lansing

MIDW

A

TOR

13

56

55

2

9

3

0

0

5

1

2

1

18

.164

.179

.218

2010

21

Dunedin

FLOR

A+

TOR

24

99

90

12

16

5

1

1

6

1

0

6

17

.178

.235

.289

4 Seasons

312

1284

1147

122

263

56

8

13

110

11

4

114

293

.229

.301

.326

A (2 seasons)

135

570

515

56

128

28

5

5

47

6

3

46

153

.249

.314

.351

A+ (2 seasons)

129

522

467

47

97

22

3

5

42

2

1

43

93

.208

.273

.300

Rk (1 season)

48

192

165

19

38

6

0

3

21

3

0

25

47

.230

.339

.321

Considering he was selected higher than both Brett Cecil who has made it to the Majors Leagues and J.P. Arencibia who is beating down the door in AAA, I think it is fair to say the organization expected more. Still just 21 years old, he has been sent back to Lansing, told to drop the left handed side of the switch hit and focus on his natural right hand swing. After taking a look at his minor league splits, I think I see why. In 865 at bats against RHP he is hitting .216 and slugging .303 with 9 home runs and 227 strike outs.

Our boy Jesse caught up with Kevin this week and talked to him about his move to third base as well as his transformation as a hitter. A very insightful interview. Check it:

2 comments:

Like you alluded to, a 21 year old has plenty of time to get it together. If it takes a few years he's still only 24. I'll take it. I'll especially take JP getting to and sticking at the majors sooner than later...